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Dancing With The Stars: Episode 11/7/11

Instant Dance Week is here, the competition gets tougher as we are down to 5 couples, and J.R. MARTINEZ lands a perfect score the entire night with dance partner, KARINA SMIRNOFF.

ROB KARDASIAN and CHERYL BURKE performed the Quickstep, which is extremely challenging, as it is a fast dance.  ROB had a rough start, but by the end he finished.  ROB’S personality and hard work landed him a high score of 27.  Go ROB!  

The Quickstep is a great cardio workout.  The movement is rigorous which provides lots of calories to be burned.  Every Dancer must hold a strong core (the center of our body) especially when they move fast.  To achieve a fabulous Quickstep like ROB, warm your body up with 50-75 crunches then putting your dancing shoes on to hit the ballroom dance floor.

HOPE SOLO and MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY finally got it together last night and in my opinion they performed their best dance yet in this competition.  It is about time.  I think MAKSIM’S attitude adjustment helped HOPE a lot to focus more on having fun with her dancing then beating herself up.  Way to go MAKSIM with the positive attitude.  Amen to attitude adjustments and checking the ego at the door! 

If you can walk, you can dance.  In the beginning of this competition, HOPE never had the confidence that she could learn to dance like the pros.  In my opinion, her confidence lacked big time.  In Ballroom dance, you need a partner who can help you stay confident and positive.  Everyone CAN dance…you just need the right voice in your head telling you that you CAN.  Anything is possible.  MAKSIM finally was a true partner last night.  KUDOS!  If you fear dance, surround yourself with positive people and teachers who will tell you that you CAN dance.

  

RICKI LAKE and DEREK HOUGH danced the Waltz last night and it was unbelievable. I always get chills watching them dance.  RICKI looked like a natural performing the Waltz.  DEREK has wonderful choreography and he is a great teacher.  The judges commented on RICKI’S shoulders and I agree that at times she is a bit stiff in her upper body.  It doesn’t bother me too much, because I am too wrapped up in her love for dance as she moves.  It is such a pleasure to watch a dancer who screams passion…that is Miss RICKI LAKE!  You deserve 10s in my book.  Go girl!

Some people prefer watching a dancer with flawless technique with not so much in the personality department.  For me, I would rather watch a dancer whose technique is not perfect, but they steal the stage with their personality.  Ok… so RICKI needs to work on her upper body a bit by relaxing her shoulders, but her incredible grace and poise on the dance floor sets the Ballroom BIG TIME for me!  Don’t you agree?!  Every week, she screams passion and to me she deserves to win this competition.  For a relaxed upper body, try rolling your shoulders front and back a bunch of times.  This will also stretch the muscles in order to be better utilized during a dance class.  Breathing and relaxing will always help too.

NANCY GRACE and TRISTAN MACMANUS performed the Tango this week.  I strongly feel that this is NANCY’S last week on Dancing With The Stars.  This competition is getting tougher and tougher.  NANCY is not consistent in her dancing at all.  She is stiff and the transitions in choreography do not suit her well.  I am not a fan.  Bye bye NANCY!

When you are in a competition, you must be consistent in your training. Train hard or go home.  When I watch NANCY on the show, I know she wants it, but she is lazy to me.  She does not have the drive to succeed.  Sorry to be so blunt and harsh…that is how I feel.  When you dedicate yourself to something, you must be in it to win it.  Every second counts and there is no room for whining or excuses.  Like NIKE says, “Just do it.”  Like I say, “It is not that deep…you CAN do it.”

J.R. MARTINEZ and KARINA SMIRNOFF’S Waltz got a standing ovation and a perfect score last night.  J.R. is a goof ball in rehearsals, which frustrates KARINA a bit.  No matter how J.R. acts, he pulls through to nail his routine.  If I were KARINA, I would not complain one bit.  J.R. definitely has what it takes to stay in this competition. 

The Waltz is a beautiful dance to perform.  It feels great on the body.  It is a romantic dance that is comprised of soft, round, flowing movements.  This dance always makes me smile. Dancers should move their shoulders smoothly, parallel with the floor instead of up and down. Dancers must strive to lengthen each step. It is quite challenging, so get into a class now to start learning this beautiful dance.

The Instant Dance was a genius idea to do this week.  Each couple randomly had to pick a song from Brooke Burke-Charvet that they did not have in rehearsals this past week.  Once they received the songs they had twenty minutes to rehearse it.  Wow, talk about pressure!  Musicality is extremely important in dance.  At this point of the competition, if the couples cannot match the song to the dance, then there is a problem.  The couples that stood out for me were:  HOPE and MAKSIM, RICKI and DEREK, and J.R. and KARINA.  Len Goodman couldn’t have put it better, “NANCY GRACE, it is midnight and time for you to go home!”  MAKSIM gave HOPE fun and creative choreography and J.R landed another perfect score! 

It was another great night in the Ballroom and I would say that NANCY GRACE is going home tonight.  Do you agree?  Please comment below.

Please remember to join me on www.twitter.com/ilysebaker for my live twitter party 8pm PST.  When you tweet, please type #DWTS #DWTSPartywithIlyse

Be sure to catch my future DWTS blogs at www.ilysebaker.com

Thanks so much for reading and come back next week for another weekly dose of dancing dirt!

-Ilyse

Dancing With The Stars: Episode 10/31/11

Halloween week on Dancing with the Stars was quite entertaining with Rob Kardashian’s bum being talked about a lot by the judges, Ricki Lake nails yet another routine, and the Teams out dance each other.

ROB KARDASIAN and CHERYL BURKE performed the Tango to The Addams Family.  It was one of Rob’s best performances.  The choreography was incredible so kudos to Cheryl for that one.  Bruno complimented Rob as the "Dance Master of the House" and I must agree.  The only critique that the judges had for Rob was about his cute “bum.”  He needs to keep in under.  Stop sticking that booty out Rob…would ya?!   

Dancing with your “bum” out is a common problem that most people face while they are performing.  It is best to have a neutral pelvis. Neutral is the position that respects the natural curvature of our spine, which is the most stable position and allows for the most movement potential. By tucking under, one creates the illusion of lengthening the low back, but in reality, it compresses the front of the spine. It creates a “gapping” of the back spine that actually increases tension in the low back muscles in an effort to create stability.  Try popping into a Pilate’s class or ballet class.  Yoga is great too for achieving that “bum” of yours to stay under.

RICKI LAKE and DEREK HOUGH danced an outstanding Paso Doble. I got chills watching them dance with such grace and energy.  Their shapes and transitions were mind blowing.  It was an absolute breathtaking performance even with RICKI’S injury.  She sure pushed through and was a Team player.

RICKI is a hard worker and extremely dedicated to this competition.  She is in it to win it!  Once you set your mind a certain way, you can do anything.  For example, if you have always wanted to take a dance class, but fear you cannot do it then rethink things now.  Turn the voice off in your head that says, “I can’t dance.”  Then, put your confidence hat on and strut into a dance class.  You might not get the entire routine the first class, but I promise by class 3-4 you will be dancing around like RICKI LAKE.

NANCY GRACE and TRISTAN MACMANUS performed the Jive this week, which is the most athletic dance in ballroom.  Let’s just say that stamina is needed big time when dancing the Jive.  Holy moly calories are being burned for sure!  Going Down to Georgia was their song, which made the routine fun and playful.

If you want a killer dance workout then the Jive is your best bet.  Talk about a major calorie burner!  Louis Van Amstel, past DWTS Professional Dancer has a great new program, LA Blast that provides an hour workout covering all styles of ballroom dance with different level options and the best part is that you do not even need a partner for it.  Check it out and get yourself into a class now to burn some major Jive calories.

J.R. MARTINEZ and KARINA SMIRNOFF’S Tango to Ghostbusters was not their best dance.  Their timing was off a lot and J.R.’s technique was not all there, which was quite surprising.  A bit of a disappointment this week, J.R. as in your past weeks have been outstanding.

The footwork in Tango dance is very difficult and challenging to grasp. Like anything worthwhile, it takes effort to learn. There is nothing quite like the synchronicity of a perfect Tango: when two bodies, two hearts, two minds, two souls move as one in perfect harmony with each other, with the music, with the floor, with the other couples ... ah, there is nothing quite like it! So, yes, it takes some effort, but it is well worth it!  Start with a beginner class and then work your way up to advanced tango.  It will take some time, but can do done!

DAVID ARQUETTE and KYM JOHNSON performed the Cha Cha this week and it was very entertaining.  I love DAVID’S improvement each week and his willingness to work harder and harder.  His opening jump in the routine was fabulous.  Go DAVID!  He just has this prestige about him that adds to his overall performance.  I was sad and disappointed that he was let go this week.  America, bad choice!

Overall, this week was fun and entertaining.  I loved the Team Dances and how Team RICKI Paso Doble stole the show.  Powerful…Dramatic…Fabulous!!!  Team J.R. Tango was nothing to write about...sorry to be so blunt, but it is true.  Team Ricki all the way as I felt the same way as the Judges.  :)

Congrats Dancers! Can’t wait for next week’s episode.  Please remember to join me on www.twitter.com/ilysebaker for my live twitter party 8pm PST.  When you tweet, please type #DWTS #DWTSPartywithIlyse

Thanks so much for reading and come back next week for another weekly dose of dancing dirt!

Dancing With The Stars: Episode 10/24/11

Broadway week on Dancing with the Stars puts  

J.R. and Ricki neck and neck while Maks crosses the line with Judge Len and the stars come together for the first group dance of the season

RICKI LAKE and DEREK HOUGH were incredible in their quickstep to “Luck Be A Lady.” They just flew across the stage and were a pleasure to watch. I kept saying, “Wow!” while watching them shine in the ballroom. Brooke Burke-Charvet complimented Ricki on how amazing her body looked - she has lost a total of 20 lbs. since the beginning of the season. Go Ricki!  The quickstep is a perfect way to lose weight as it screams:  CARDIO!

Dance is a great way to lose weight and get fit. Not only do you have the opportunity to burn a lot of calories, but it’s also a lot of fun! Each week on Dancing with the Stars, Ricki shines bright and the pounds continue to melt away. The quickstep is a fantastic way to blast calories since the dance is very cardio intense. You can burn up to 330 calories an hour doing the quickstep. Put on Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be a Lady” like Ricki and quickstep away to a slimmer, trimmer you!

ROB KARDASIAN and CHERYL BURKE performed the Cha Cha. During the rehearsal footage, Rob expressed that he wanted to keep working harder. I love his determination and dedication to the show and it’s evident Rob has a good head on his shoulders. There were a couple struggles in their routine, but Rob and Cheryl did a great job “Dressing Part” – I just loved their costume choices.

You can have good choreography and the right song choice, but if you do not “Dress the Part” then it can all fall apart. The wardrobe is the icing on the cake. Not only does a costume look good with a performance, but it also helps the dancers connect to the theme of the show. For your next class and/or show, I recommend you take the time to put a lot of thought behind your wardrobe choices. For example, if you are doing a hip-hop number, do not choose tight jazz pants. You will want to wear a cargo pant or funky sweats to help you get in the mood.

NANCY GRACE and TRISTAN MACMANUS yet again lacked passion with their performance this week. I said the same thing last week and my feelings have not changed one bit about this couple.  I am not a fan! They danced the Foxtrot to “Spamalot.” Nancy was too stiff and had a smile plastered on her face throughout the entire dance. Her expression did not change one bit. She needs to work on her performance techniques more than the steps.

Dancing is just like acting- you must make some kind of connection with your performance and the audience. It’s one thing to just do moves on stage or in class, but it is another thing to express yourself while doing it. When I teach my class a routine, I always have them create a story. The story gives them something to think about as they dance and it works every time. It also helps them relax and not stress about the steps. It becomes this magical experience. The next time you dance, try creating a story for yourself that will help you feel the music and be inspired to dance. 

HOPE SOLO and MAKSIM CHMERKOVSKIY danced the Rhumba to “Seasons of Love” from Rent.  I LOVE Rent! There is so much passion and tragedy in that show so I was expecting the choreography to blow me away….it didn’t. Hope has been having a hard time on the show, as the judges have been very tough during comments and scoring. In my opinion, Maks does nothing to help Hope stay confident and positive. He tears her apart in rehearsal and puts her down constantly. It is called, PATIENCE, Maks! This week, he was completely out of line when he talked back to Judge Len and made it even worse for Hope. 

When teaching anyone how to dance or learn anything new, patience is a virtue. We all know that dance can be tough and intimidating. When you are an instructor, you must check the ego at the door and show open arms to the student. The next time you are in a dance or fitness class, if the instructor is being too hard on you and negative, please do not be afraid to speak up to let them know how you feel. No one should be put down ever! There is a way to be tough in the way you teach without putting someone down. Staying positive and confident is so important in learning how to dance.

J.R. MARTINEZ and KARINA SMIRNOFF’S quickstep received a score of 29 and definitely deserved it. J.R. is a natural and is a pleasure to watch dance. He makes me smile every week. His personality is perfect for the ballroom. He also has great musicality. 

Musicality is having a talent or an ear for music. If you cannot hear music then forget about dancing. You must stay on beat while you dance and J.R. has a great ear for music. Choose music that has a strong beat to it and listen to it before dancing. Clap to the beat first then get on the dance floor to see if you have what it takes like J.R.

Overall, this week was just ok for me. I enjoyed J.R. and Ricki the best and it was nice to see the cast dance all together for the first time. And big Kudos to the stars who nailed some of the difficult lifts in the group routine! Those were not easy and they definitely showed how far they have come this season with some impressive moves.

 

"Thanks so much for reading and come back next week for another weekly dose of dancing dirt!

-Ilyse"

Dancing With The Stars: Episode 10/17/11

Did you know that each week I share the hits, misses and inside tips of Dancing with the Stars performances?  I do this to benefit all of you.  You can use my tips at home to get fit and lead high quality lives.  Each week I also tweet live @ilysebaker and you can join me there at 8pm PST every Monday.  Please type #DWTS and #DWTSPartywithIlyse in your comments.

It’s 80s week on Dancing with the Stars!

David nails the tango while Rob is called “The Heart Throb” and Richard Simmons pines over Carson’s wardrobe

DAVID ARQUETTE and KYM JOHNSON nailed their tango to “Tainted Love” and the choreography was fabulous. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba advised David to stop thinking so much and just dance. David did just that and blew everyone away with his killer performance.

Dance can be very intimidating for a non-professional dancer, which can cause you to over think. I constantly tell my students that thinking is overrated in dancing and to turn that little voice off in your head that does not offer encouragement. Dancing is just like riding a bike for the first time. You are going to fall off that bike the first couple of times, but as you keep at it you will get better.  It is the same process with dancing. Try grasping 1-2 moves in your first lesson then keep at it. You will get it and rock it. Just remember to breathe and also know that dance is another way to express yourself so have fun.

ROB KARDASIAN and CHERYL BURKE performed the Rumba last night.  Rob has had a tough time connecting with Cheryl so past contestant, Romeo, came to share his expertise. The Rumba is a very sexual and passionate dance that Rob struggled with before Romeo came to the rescue. When Rob hit the dance floor, he turned into a sex machine and Bruno complimented him with, “Rob, The Heart Throb.”  His dancing was strong and he was in total control of Cheryl on the dance floor. Way to go Rob! Every week you get better and better as a performer!

Finding the sex appeal in a dance can be challenging, but very doable. You must allow yourself to let loose and share with your dance partner what makes you feel sexy. Try picturing yourself in your hottest outfit and dancing with the love of your life or your high school crush. This is what I like to call, “setting the stage.”  It is just like acting. Every Actor “sets his/her stage” before a show. It is about making your connection with the performance. Before you start dancing, sit in a quiet place, put your music on, close your eyes, and do the dance in your head. This will help you make the connection in your mind first then you will be ready for the dance floor.

NANCY GRACE and TRISTAN MACMANUS are not my favorite couple on the show. Each week, I hope Nancy improves and she will change my opinion about her – but it doesn’t. When I watch NANCY dance, I feel like she is fake. It seems she lacks the passion and drive to be Dancing with the Stars best dancer. She just goes through the motions.

Don’t get me wrong, a dancer with flawless technique is beautiful to watch, but there is something to be said about a “total package dancer.” I am sure you are wondering what I mean by this…right?! This is a dancer who has fantastic technique and the personality that goes with it. This dancer pours out their passion on the dance floor. When you watch a “total package dancer” you are on the edge of your seat and have chills. You want to get up and dance with them to share their passion for dance. So how can you achieve this? I recommend you think of something that makes you the happiest person on earth. Something that puts you on cloud nine then put those feelings into your dancing. Instead of using your words, tell the world how you feel through your movement on the dance floor.

CARSON KRESSLEY and ANNA TREBUNSKAYA jived their way to a fun and entertaining performance last night.  Carson is “Mr. Personality” on the show and he does an excellent job each week. However, there were parts of his jive that were a bit sloppy. But because of Carson’s high energy and entertaining performance, I enjoyed watching him strut his stuff. He dressed the part of the jive and even Richard Simmons seemed a bit envious of his killer costume. It was very cute to watch.  

Dress the part like Carson did last night by matching the theme of your dance or workout to your wardrobe. Not only will it help you connect to your workout, but also will add the entertaining “it” factor that you need for a successful show.

 

Dancing With The Stars: Episode 10/10/11

Did you watch last night's Dancing with the Stars? Did you join my Twitter party at #DWTSPartywithIlyse? If not, please read below what I thought and had to say about the dancers and the show. Don't forget to join me every week on Twitter @ilysebaker and #DWTSPartywithIlyse

Ricki rocks the dance floor while Rob and JR bust a move and Chaz shares a moment with mom during Movie Madness on Dancing with the Stars

JR MARTINEZ and KARINA SMIRNOFF dancing the night away to Pink Panther was one of my favorite dances from this Movie Madness-themed episode. Their performance was smooth and crisp and they were in sync with the music.

Musicality and being connected to your music is extremely important in any type of dance or fitness routine. For any dance or fitness routine, try picking music you may not normally listen to on a daily basis. Then, sit and listen to the song. See if you can clap your hands to the beat. If you are in sync with the music then get up and dance or make the rhythm and beat part of your fitness routine!

ROB KARDASIAN and CHERYL BURKE were outstanding in their Paso Doble. This dance is lively and can be very challenging especially for an amateur dancer like Rob. But each week Rob gets better and better - you know what they say, ‘Practice makes perfect.’

One of the best dance tips that I tell my students to follow (and that I follow myself) is to grasp 1-2 moves in your first dance. Then keep working at it and it will get easier as the weeks progress. Patience is key! You can apply this tip to dance, or any challenges you face in everyday life.

RICKI LAKE and DEREK HOUGH landed the first 10s of the season and a near perfect score - and they deserved it. Their tango was amazing and well rehearsed. Ricki held her upper body up high and strong. Her presence on stage was intense and had a certain demand to it.

To shine like Ricki did in her Tango and own the stage, try a ballet class. Ballet offers many great upper body exercises that will benefit your next Tango lesson. Like Tango, ballet is also very disciplined like so it is a great way to prepare to rock the stage for Tango.

My favorite moment of this Dancing with the Stars was seeing Cher in the audience to watch CHAZ BONO and LACEY SCHWIMMER rock their Paso Doble. Cher was so proud, supportive, and emotional watching Chaz dance and you could tell it was a special moment they shared together.

Chaz is passionate about his work on the show and Cher got to be a part of that with her son tonight. Find something that you are passionate about and share it with a loved one. Sharing your passion is the best gift that anyone could ever have and/or experience.

Dancing With The Stars: Episode 10/3/11

Last night, I watched Dancing With The Stars with several of my dance students at Riviera Restaurant and Lounge in Calabasas, CA. The ipad was in hand as I tweeted live during the show my thoughts, opinions, and tips. The evening was a lot of fun. Please join my twitter party every Monday 8:00pm PST by following me @ilysebaker and using my hashtag #DWTSPartywithIlyse

Here is what I had to say about last night's episode:

1) Cheryl Burke and Rob Kardashian had a strong performance as dancing to, “Fly Me To The Moon” - it was smooth and classy. Rob had a huge smile on his face throughout the entire number. Rob followed one of my favorite dance tips - A smile is an expression of pleasure, happiness, or amusement. If you smile while you are dancing, people will get the feeling that you love what you are doing. Even if you are dancing alone, smile at yourself. You love to dance, so let it show!

Follow in Rob’s footsteps and try smiling the next time you step onto the dance floor. I promise your performance will be a true success!

2) Mark Ballas and Kristen Cavallari danced the Samba to Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love.” Kristen was challenged to release her inner Beyonce. Let’s face it, Carrie Ann Inaba was right when she said Beyonce’s shoes are hard to fill. Kristen needed to let loose to booty shake her way through the Samba which is not easy even for professional dancers.

To get a booty like Beyonce’s and unleash your inner rock star try my Bump up the Butt routine. Start with your feet hip width apart and place your hands on your hips. Then, bend your knees, and in a scooping action, shift your hips to the right as you straighten and squeeze your butt cheeks together. Then repeat to the left side. This move will leave you with one tight derrière and hot moves for Saturday night! Follow along here: http://bit.ly/o0Skm4

3) Carson Kressley and Anna Trebunskaya kicked butt in their tango tonight and it was brilliant! Carson nailed his high kicks which was my favorite part. To get high kicks like Carson, you need a strong core to lift your legs.

For killer abs, try my Rockin Roll Abs move. Place your legs hip width apart, soften your knees, tuck your pelvis forward and engage your core. Pump your arms, and thrust your pelvis forward to your favorite tunes. Try doing this exercise for 5 minutes to your favorite song and you will be smiling all the way to your 6-pack abs. This move works your entire midsection, and the best part is that you do not do a single crunch on the floor.

4) Kym Johnson showed off her fierce legs while doing the dance of love tonight with David Arquette.

To get Kym’s tight and toned sexy legs, try my Funky Plies. A Plie means bending of the knees. Start in Ballet first position with your heels kissed together and your toes pointed out to about a 45-degree angle. Once you grasp this position, keep your feet turned out then walk your legs out to second position, which leaves your feet right underneath your shoulders. Keeping your arms by your sides, your chest lifted, bend straight down and then straighten your legs as you squeeze your butt cheeks together. Do this a couple of times to get use to what a basic Plie feels like then it is time to put the Funk in. Pop in your favorite music and start this move by bending down in your legs, keeping them wide then as you come up bring one leg in then repeat to the other side. You will feel this in your quads, glutes, hamstrings, and a little in your adductors as well. As you get use to this movement, put some more bounce and attitude in those Funky Plies. Check the move out here: http://bit.ly/oqJFGp